7 Best Eye Creams for Puffy Eyes, According to Dermatologists

22.08.2025, 17:07 allure.com

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When it comes to the best eye creams for puffy eyes, the right formula can make all the difference between looking wide awake or like you hit the snooze button five times. Puffy eyes might feel like they happen overnight, but the causes often run deeper. “Bags under the eyes are caused when the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids are weak, and the skin may start to sag,” says Richard Bottiglione, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Phoenix, Arizona.

As skin loosens with age, it creates more room for fluid to collect—especially overnight, when lying flat slows circulation. “Salty meals, allergies, and even lack of sleep can make matters worse. While poor sleep doesn’t directly cause fluid retention, it slows blood and lymphatic flow, making it harder for fluid to drain,” he says. As a result, you’ll find lingering swelling, darker circles, and eyes that broadcast how tired you are.

The good news: Certain eye creams can help counteract undereye puffiness. (That said, if the issue is more structural—like sagging skin or fat pads—you might be looking at an in-office treatment such as blepharoplasty.) Both retinol and caffeine work to reduce puffiness around the eye and are two ingredients I recommend looking for in an undereye cream,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. Caffeine provides a quick fix by constricting blood vessels, while retinol offers longer-term improvement for both swelling and the appearance of dark circles. “Deep moisturizers like hyaluronic acid are also key to soothing puffy, dehydrated skin,” she says. Ahead, the best dermatologist-approved formulas with these key ingredients to help de-puff, brighten, and revive tired eyes.

SkinMedica

Amazon

Dermstore

Contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Cream

Why it's worth it: If you’ve ever wished for an eye cream that works like Zoom’s “brighten” filter, Allure staffers swear by SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Cream to look more awake during meetings. “This formula not only improves puffiness, but also brightens and smooths the skin while leaving it hydrated and healthy,” says Dr. Chacon. Caffeine is a standout here, helping to visibly reduce swelling, while hyaluronic acid deeply moisturizes and plumps dry skin. “Hyaluronic acid’s hydrating properties—as well as the formula’s grape flower cell extract and squalane—are particularly beneficial if you’re also experiencing darkness or duller skin under the eyes,” says Dr. Chacon.

Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai

"This is pretty much everything I look for in an eye cream: easy to use, lightweight, and powerful enough to handle my undereye bags and crow's feet in one fell swoop. I love that it absorbs immediately, and the hydration sets in ASAP to make my eye area look dewier and brighter. It's also made a big difference in the shadowing under my eyes from the puffiness, so they look smoother and more taut." —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

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SkinCeuticals

SkinCeuticals

Dermstore

Bluemercury

Shopping director Shanna Shipin applying the SkinCeuticals A.G.E Advanced Eye Cream

Why it's worth it: We couldn’t think of a more fitting acronym than A.G.E. for an eye cream. In this case, it stands for advanced glycation end-products, which are the molecules that weaken collagen production and elastin, leading to sagging skin that makes fine lines, wrinkles, and undereye puffiness more noticeable. SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye Cream, a 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, is designed to combat these signs of aging. “This eye cream includes caffeine as a beneficial ingredient, which will visibly reduce the appearance of puffy undereyes and dark circles,” says Dr. Chacon. Alongside caffeine, proxylane helps restore firmness, blueberry extract provides antioxidant defense, and Matrixyl 3000 peptides boost skin’s resilience.

Tester feedback from shopping director Shanna Shipin

"Thanks to genetics and my big cheeks, I've had crow's feet since grade school. The larger smile-induced lines have never bothered me before, but as I've gotten older, there's been a proliferation of fine lines around my eyes, along with overall thinning and loss of suppleness in that area. Lifelong eyelid eczema—and rubbing at said eczema (naturally!)—have not only contributed to premature aging but have also made it very difficult for me to find an eye cream that doesn't irritate my skin. Thankfully, SkinCeuticals' A.G.E Advanced Eye Cream does exactly what I need: it hydrates the area while making it appear tighter and more plump overall without causing irritation. While I haven't seen the darkness under my eyes corrected just yet, I have noticed a plumper, more alive, look to my eyes." —Shanna Shipin, shopping director

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Isdin

Amazon

Dermstore

Commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Isdin Isdinceutics Vital Eyes Night Eye Cream

Why it's worth it: ISDIN Isdinceutics Vital Eyes Night Eye Cream tackles puffiness from multiple angles, addressing fluid retention, inflammation, and poor circulation that can cause fluid to linger even longer. “Caffeine eye cream is excellent for helping limit water retention,” says Morayo Adisa, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago, Illinois. She adds that cold compresses can also reduce swelling, and if that’s not handy, the formula comes with a cooling metal applicator—which you can stash in the fridge—that offers a soothing, de-puffing boost. Beyond caffeine, this cream leans on licorice root to calm inflammation, marine extracts like wakame and red algae to support circulation and balance fluids, and rice extract to brighten. Meanwhile, melatonin strengthens the skin’s natural defenses overnight, and hyaluronic acid provides deep hydration to smooth fine lines for brighter and more refreshed eyes by morning.

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

“I usually toss applicators as soon as I open packaging but like what this sizable metal ball adds to the experience, so it's staying! It's extra cooling, doubling as a massage tool I circle around my eyes, and I find it actually helps the product sink in, so I barely have to use my finger pads at all. While you need to use an eye cream long-term to see more noticeable effects, I'm already quite impressed. After my first few uses, I didn't feel the need to apply concealer! (And I always feel like I need at least a dab under my eyes to hide discoloration and make me look awake, so this is major.)” —Sarah Han, commerce writer

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Clinique

Amazon

Nordstrom

Contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

Why it's worth it: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage is your eyes’ wake-up call in a rollerball. The lightweight, fast-drying serum contains caffeine to visibly reduce puffiness and perk up tired eyes, while glycerin delivers a surge of hydration to smooth and refresh the delicate skin. “The cooling metal applicator makes the experience even more convenient, instantly soothing while boosting circulation with a gentle massage,” says Alicia Zalka, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Litchfield County, Connecticut. It’s an easy pick for anyone who wants more awake-looking eyes at home or on the go.

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

“I love how effortless the Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage is to use. As a mom of two, puffy eyes are a fact of life—and I definitely don’t have time for a full eye-care routine. This makes me look instantly more awake without having to tap in the product or wait for it to absorb. Just swipe and go!” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

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La Roche-Posay

Amazon

Dermstore

Why it's worth it: Retinol may be the gold standard for softening fine lines and wrinkles, but it can also help minimize swelling and undereye bags. “La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eyes Retinol Eye Cream is a great soothing option for dark circles and puffiness around the eye area. It will leave the skin looking firm and youthful as it tackles multiple eye concerns,” says Dr. Chacon. This formula combines pure retinol with a retinol booster complex to fortify and thicken delicate under-eye skin, offering better support—which in turn makes puffiness less visible while stimulating collagen for a smoother, more resilient look. And to keep the delicate eye area calm, La Roche-Posay’s signature thermal spring water provides a soothing, antioxidant boost, helping ease irritation while addressing the water retention that often contributes to puffiness.

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Kate Somerville

Amazon

Nordstrom

Dermstore

Why it’s worth it: Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream doesn’t stop at traditional retinol—it also taps into bio-retinol from plant-based babchi seeds (a.k.a. bakuchiol) to refine texture, soften wrinkles in mature skin, and boost clarity without irritation. Adding to the experience is a cooling metal applicator tip that not only depuffs but also soothes on contact. “I’ve had patients keep it in the fridge for extra depuffing powers. It makes nightly use feel like a quick spa moment before bed, which helps turn skin care into a relaxing habit,” says Sarah Sung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Seattle.

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Eau Thermale Avène

Amazon

Dermstore

Why it’s worth it: Retinaldehyde (retinal) is often considered the more effective cousin of retinol, and Avène Retrinal Eyes Advanced 3-in-1 Eye Cream harnesses that strength to target puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles. “Retinal is a direct precursor to retinoic acid and considered more potent than retinol with better tolerance,” says Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist